To feel a bit like everyone hates me when I'm a British tourist in Europe now

[Everythingisnumbersnow]

I try with the language, I try not to get in people's way, I tip and I don't complain.

But everything still feels much more hostile than it used to.

I think this is all a bit main character syndrome-like.

I'm part-British. My husband is 100% British. We live in continental Europe and travel around quite a bit during the holidays. Literally noone cares. They might still be a bit bemused by Brexit, but that's about it. Europeans have their own cost of living, house prices, school choices, car MOTs, birthday planning, grocery shopping and so on to think about. The time spent thinking about Brexit and Brits is approximately zero.

Spain not on the same scale?

Do you know how many countries Spajn invaded?

No they didn't. Do you not understand what colonising is?

Yes, I know. I just find the idea a bit silly. Surely the Europeans are aware of their own history?

I could be wrong but don't people say German people carry a sort of guilt about that time and feel like they have to do more to show that they aren't hostile? And maybe people want to see more of that attitude from the English.. IF that is actually what the hostility is about.

I feel like the whole notion that Europeans don't like the English is more a post-Brexit attitude. And maybe it's a "well if you don't like us (and want to leave), then we don't like you either". That, plus maybe our political landscape in the last decade has caused the UK to lose a bit of its gravitas and become a point of jokes (eg. Bumbling Boris, Liz truss the lettuce etc)

Yes colonising is invading and taking land. And enforcing your culture on the inhabitants.

England did it to Ireland.

Germany did it to Poland etc

They certainly caused some trouble for South America.

I just never understand why England gets the reputation as the coloniser and invader.

When nearly every country has invaded other countries in history.

It's a bit annoying.

As well as the Spanish Inquisition

Oh dear, no. Germany did NOT colonise Poland. Are you confused about the German (and Soviet) invasion.and occupation of Poland?
That is categorically not what colonisation is.

Maybe read some history, and be less annoying..sorry, annoyed.

To be honest, I'm not convinced that it does overall. I mean, it certainly has the reputation of coloniser and invader in countries it colonised and invaded, but in my limited experience in Central and South America, for example, they have much more against the Spanish, logically. Similar for North Africa and France.

I see a lot of debates on Mumsnet with posters wailing "Why are we always the baddies? Other European countries were colonisers too!", but Mumsnet is a British site, and I strongly suspect that on the French, Spanish, Dutch or Belgian equivalents there may be similar breast beating about their respective colonial histories.

Well I didn't expect that. I don't think anybody did, tbh.

I've looked up the definition of colonisation , and it is exactly what I've said it is.

Its Invading, taking land and enforcing a culture on the inhabitants.

What do you think colonisation is?

Maybe you should read some history love, as you dont have a clue what you're on about,
and yes Germany did colonise Poland.

I went onto a history website just there and copied this phrase from it:

"Germany colonized Poland during World War II when it invaded the country on September 1, 1939'

Impacts the world to this day

You’re overthinking it.

DP is Italian and whenever we go somewhere that isn’t Italy he will speak English to people, all my European friends are the same. Polish and Portuguese people will go to Italy and speak English.

They are often more impatient when people in tourist areas don’t speak English! They say “I had to learn English so should you!”.

Indeed, until it's liberation by Soviet troops in 1945.

Oh you didn't get the joke, damn!!

Bring out the comfy chair!

Haven't noticed, been to Spain and Italy recently and everyone so friendly. But we're Scottish and most countries seem to like us!

Noooooooooo not the comfy chair!! 😱

That's another thing that doesn't make sense.

People never seem to remember that Scotland also invaded places and took land.

Yet scotland doesn't have that reputation. Their reputation is "the good guys who didn't do anything in history'

People remember selective things.

Rub him up and down with the soft pillows!